American Bandogge Mastiff Dog Breed

The American Bandogge Mastiff is a crossbred dog that comes from two breeds, of which only one is recognized by the AKC: the Neapolitan Mastiff, which is in the Working Dog Group. The AKC does not recognize the American Pitbull Terrier (APBT) as a breed by name, but many argue that it is essentially the American Staffordshire Pitbull, which is recognized by the AKC and classified as a Terrier. In any case, the American Bandogge Mastiffs are hard workers who are not for first-time dog owners even as they are fine in family settings with kids. They can serve as companions for the right person, but they must be exercised, given a job, and not left alone much.

Here are some of the many things you should know about these hybrid dogs:

PROS

• Very loving
• Highly loyal
• Easy to train
• Decent watchdogs
• Low grooming needs
• Few health concerns
• Plays well with kids
• Excellent guard dogs
• High tolerance to pain
• Low sensitivity to touch
• Barks very little, if at all
• Moderate exercise requirements
• Can be socialized with other pets
• Developed to be family-friendly guardians by a vet

CONS

• Easily bored
• Fiercely territorial
• Not hypoallergenic
• Separation anxiety
• Destructive if upset
• Must have an alpha
• Tends to be dog-aggressive
• Not good for apartment life
• Can be expensive to maintain

Because this mixed breed dog was intentionally bred by a veterinarian, there is a lot of good American Bandogge Mastiff information available. These giant dogs are suited for people with moderately active lifestyles who can manage very large dogs and who will want their dogs with them all the time.

They are very intelligent dogs who can be trained to do a lot of different things from police work, to hunting, to sports. They need a lot of mental stimulation to prevent boredom, and they are at their happiest when learning. They are fine as family guardians too, so long as they have things to do.

These dogs are very loyal, and they bond closely with their master and family. American Bandogge Mastiffs are remarkably obedient. If you have kids, they'll love playing with them. They are not barkers, even as guard dogs. They are not usually aggressive, but if they are provoked by strangers (or upset from boredom or separation anxiety), they can be dangerous.

A moderate amount of exercise is essential for these dogs, as they have average energy. While they do like to stretch their legs with some extreme activity, they also like to be lazy — so long as they are lazy with you!

At first sight, some people may imagine the American Bandogge Mastiff temperament as being a mean one. That is typically not the case. They are huge, fearsome-looking dogs that are nonetheless gentle, quiet, family-friendly dogs. These dogs can get separation anxiety if left alone for frequent,long periods, however, and they will express it in a way that befits their giant size: chewing, howling, and general destruction.

With kids, they play well and behave even better. Many people say they can make wonderful nanny dogs and that they understand kids as well as when to be a bit rambunctious and when to be gentle. They have a high tolerance for pain, and they can handle some rough handling when playing. They don't get upset easily.

The American Bandogge Mastiff tends to be easy to train so long as you make yourself the alpha. Once that is established, these highly disciplined, fast-learning dogs will be eager to learn new tricks and tasks. They are courageous and they make great guard dogs, but as watch dogs, they nearly never bark — which may or may not be a good thing.

The American Bandogge Mastiff tends to have far fewer health concerns than most dogs. It may be because of hybrid vigor, the cross-breeding program that produced them (which was by a vet), or both. They do have some problems, however, and these can usually be prevented with proper feeding, care, and supervision. You should be on the lookout for signs indicating:

• Bloat
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Eye problems
• Skin ailments
• Joint dysplasia
• Autoimmune thyroiditis

The average life span for these dogs is around 8 to 11 years. They are giant dogs, and such dogs tend to have a typically shorter life span.